Attn: Mr. Rajnath Singh.

Dear Ministry of Home Affairs, India,

This is a petition to request the immediate suspension of the Padma Shri awarded to Bollywood actor Nana Patekar until the allegations of harassment against him are thoroughly investigated. In this letter, we explain why this is of supreme importance and urgency.

The allegation:

Actress Tanushree Dutta had claimed back in 2008 that Nana Patekar harassed her sexually on the sets of the movie 'Horn, OK, Please'. Journalist Janice Sequeira and Assistant Director Shyni Shetty are the key eyewitnesses to this who have corroborated the entire incident on several media. Not only Nana Patekar abused her on stage but also involved the goons of the MNS party who attacked her vehicle while her parents were inside. Someone called the cops and only when police jeeps with 30 cops arrived at the scene and shot fires in the air, the gates were opened and Tanushree and her family were let go. Tanushree has accused choreographer Ganesh Acharya and the producer and director of the film to be accomplices in the whole attack. 

Later, even before she could file an FIR, a counter FIR was filed against her, her father and some of her crew for which she had to bear the torture for the next 3 years of her life. She was branded unprofessional and her career ended while the ones who attacked her, flourish and receive awards.

Below I answer all the important questions that you may have regarding this case but I first want to explain why this suspension is requested.

The reason why the suspension/withdrawal of his award is petitioned:

India has literally being tagged as the world's most dangerous country by the Thomson Reuters Foundation in 2018. From Kathua to Unnao, rape victims are suffering enormously. Girls and women whether at homes or in the workplaces shy away from complaining only because they fear being ridiculed by the society and cause they know they won't be believed. 

BELIEVING THE VICTIM is the first step towards making any change in the condition of women in India. Not asking that the suspect bt punished without investigation but at least let there be a genuine investigation without the influence of political goons and corrupt officers.

If the benefit of the doubt is to be given, why to the suspect and not the victim?

When we have campaigns like 'Beti Padhao, Beti Bachao', we also need to have faith when that same Beti speaks about her ordeal. If we never trust her, she would never have the courage the speak out and the crimes will continue to escalate. 

Hollywood is not the ideal example yet they did take down giants like Weinstein and Bill Cosby after hundreds of actresses came out and participated in the #MeToo movement. Though late, yet it did create waves and it continues to make things better for women in their industry. And now seeing Brett Kavanaugh being questioned is an example that no matter how long, no matter how powerful the perpetrator, there will be consequences.

For such a movement to happen in Bollywood is almost impossible because, in India, the film industry is largely male-dominated, the cozy club of the few where nepotism is prized and very few actors and actresses from humble backgrounds make it big. 

This means opening up about such incidents would risk end of the career for many. Just on the sets of this film where Tanushree was shooting her dance, there were 50 plus dancers watching all of this. But none can be expected to speak up simply because their daily wages depend on directors and producers who would then label them as troublemakers and never hire them again. 

Hence, suspending this award is crucial because:

1. It will set an example for the rest of the film industry to mend their ways or risk losing their awards and honors.
2. The girls in this country are watching. India has an enormous talent yet millions of girls are forced by their families to give up their career because the families think the world out there is filled with sexual predators who will harm their girls with no consequences. This suspension would tell those parents that their daughters are safer.
3. This will give voice to the millions of women in workplaces who silently suffer harassment in order to keep the roof over their heads.
4. Most importantly, suspending of this award will take away the onus of coming out on the fearful people who may not be speaking in support of Tanushree. After all, as we have seen, it is not just the loss of livelihood they fear, they could also be easily killed, their families could be killed. If a high profile actress like Tanushree could be brutally attacked in front of hundreds of people, what safety can we guarantee to the witnesses who may come out (that too in case the investigation is done and the case is re-opened)? 

Questions you may have about the case:

1- Why is Tanushree speaking up only now when this happened in 2008?

She did speak up back then as well but people dismissed it. She also complained to the Cine and Television Artistes Association, yet no action was taken. 

2- Is she doing all of this for fame?

Tanushree's career took the hit back in 2008 and she is no longer in the film industry. However, speaking up about her ordeal is not just for herself as she claims, but also for every victim out there. Survivors of sexual assault hardly get any 'fame' but mostly threats and ridicule. 

3- She was kissing male actors in all her films. Why is she making a fuss about this?

CONSENT- look into it. Her sexual past or raunchy songs does not give anyone the right to abuse and harass her.

4- Why didn't she complain to the police?

Back in 2008 when the incident happened, she got the cops involved and did everything in her power to legally sort this. But you and I are no stranger to the corruption in our system which was used to torture her stylist, make up artist and her father, ultimately leading the case to be either dropped or reach a dead end. 

5- What should be done now?

Tanushree has already suffered the consequences of dealing with the police in the past. Now that this case has come to the highlights, the police should re-open the case and clarify what they had done to help Tanushree in 2008. 

6- Should an alleged sexual harasser really be a holder of the highest civilian award such as the Padma Shri? What example does that set for the 50% of India's population?

The answer is a resounding NO.

The Padma Shri awards are the honor bestowed upon the top individuals for their distinguished service to the nation. Mr. Nana Patekar is an astounding actor without a doubt and enjoys a respectable position in the eyes of the nation's Bollywood crazy fans. 

But does being an actor, athlete or business person suffice their responsibility and accountability to the nation? Does it give them the right to sexual misconduct and harassment?

Survivors of sexual assault and rape pay for those moments their entire life, as Padma Laxmi wrote in her New York Times essay after the Brett Kavanaugh public hearings going on in America currently. While the attacker moves on and enjoys life and probably looks for another victim soon enough. 

India needs to believe the survivors of sexual assault.

India needs to take some serious actions and set examples to show it respects and believes women and in this land, a man's power and connections are not enough to silence a survivor. 

I, therefore, urge you to kindly suspend the Padma Shri awarded to Mr. Nana Patekar and request the relevant authorities to investigate this case, on behalf of the millions of survivors of sexual assault in India and the world.

We diligently look forward to you taking an action and setting an example.

Kind Regards,

A survivor,

On behalf of the millions of survivors across India and the globe.